"SOMEONE has to try to protect these much-valued social care services."

Isle of Wight councillor Geof Brodie is looking to stop cuts to stroke support and fall prevention before they happen.

It is ahead of the council's budget-setting meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday), where future finances, cuts to services and price increases could be agreed.

Among those proposed by the Alliance administration — including a 4.99 per cent council tax rise — is cuts in the adult social care budget, removing £67,000 funding for a falls prevention co-ordinator at the NHS Trust and £70,000 for the social care stroke support contract.

In his alternative budget, Cllr Brodie is seeking to reverse the proposals and would withdraw the review of the background support provision at Brooklime House.

Cllr Brodie would also halve the proposed hike in bereavement services fees and charges — which is being put forward due to inflation and rising energy costs.

The Alliance is looking to make £300,000 in the year for the charges but Cllr Brodie is proposing to only put fees up by ten per cent in the next year.

Fees would then go up again in 2024/25.

Cllr Brodie said he was sure the money it would take to stop the proposals could be replaced in three years' time and was confident many councillors would agree with him.

To make the amendments, Cllr Brodie would stop replacing IT equipment in 2026/27 and then use funds from the general reserves budget for future costs.

It would reduce the number of laptops by 205 and mobile phones by 320.
Cllr Brodie is also calling for the council to achieve £150,000 in additional savings in the next three years, totalling £6.15 million between 2024 and 2027.

He would have liked to have done more in his alternative budget, he said, including potentially limiting the overall council tax increase.

Cllr Brodie criticised the 'practically impossible' nature of putting forward an opposition budget due to the limited window in which to put one forward and get the necessary approval.

The final decision will be made by full council tomorrow.